Student Research Projects

Chemotropism in Neurospora crassa

Abstract

Neurospora crassa is a highly studied fungus. Chemotropism, however, is a concept that few scientists have studied in fungi. The ability to grow toward or away from a chemical stimulus and the mechanisms that allow for such directed growth has been poorly studied in fungi. Earlier work with Neurospora crassa, identified an actin mutation that seemed to lack a chemotrophic response. The purpose of this research project was to examine, and hopefully identify, other mutants that have an impaired chemotrophic response. This work focused on mutants that have a defect in cytoskeletal elements or proteins associated with cytoskeletal filaments that would may affect chemotropism in Neurospora crassa.